The process of translation of precedent phenomena is considered to be very
complicated because the interpreter should translate not only the verbal form
but also a concept which stands behind it. Each precedent phenomenon has a
very distinctive ethnic connotation or associative potential which is determined
by the ethnic culture in which it functions. This cultural determination is
of a greater degree in the case of ethnic precedent phenomena and of a smaller
degree in the case of international or transnational precedent phenomena,
but this determination is always present. It is translator’s main concern
to understand the slightest accents in the meaning of a precedent phenomenon
in the original language and find the most suitable equivalent to it in the
language of translation. The purpose of such translation is to activate the
same mental structures in the receivers of translated variant as were activated
in receivers of the original (T. A. Fesenko) thus to produce the same emotional
effect which is impossible without the creative element. In the cause of study
of this theme we come to conclusion that all methods of translation are used
in the process of translation of precedent phenomena: transliteration/transcription,
word for word translation, method of description, method of contextual changes
(generalization, antonymic translation, concretization), the use of explanation
or remarks. All these translation techniques presuppose some creative process
on translator’s side (except transliteration or transcription). The
frequency of methods is different in the case of ethnic and transnational
precedent phenomena. Ethnic precedent phenomena are more frequently translated
by the use of word for word technique (25.3%) or explanations and remarks
(18.6%). Transnational precedent phenomena in the majority of cases have constant
variants of translation (81.5%) but the rest actualize elements of meaning
typical only of one ethnic language and are translated using generalization,
concretization or antonymic translation. The creative element of translation
helps to achieve the main purpose of translation: to produce the same result
on the receiver as the original